Watford are limping towards the finishing line. They are without a win in six games and have managed two points from the last 18 on offer.

They carved out the better chances against Palace but for the fourth time in six games they failed to find the net.

Okaka's fourth minute header which struck the bar set the tone for a frustrating afternoon.

Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey saved well from team-mate Joel Ward after Deeney's cross cannoned off the Palace defender while substitute Richarlison wasted a late chance to seal the points.

There was another controversial incident, before Zaha's booking, when Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure pushed the Palace forward following another penalty appeal.

The run-in - who plays who?

Watford

Crystal Palace

v Tottenham Hotspur (a) 30 April

v Leicester City (h) 28 April

v Newcastle United (h) 5 May

v Stoke City (a) 5 May

v Manchester United (a) 13 May

v West Bromwich Albion (h) 13 May

Man of the match - Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace)

Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins were excellent at the heart of the Palace defence as Watford were frustrated. Sakho made some vital clearances and had the best passing accuracy of any Palace player - 86.5%

Target practice - the stats

Watford equalled their season-best tally for first-half shots in the Premier League in this game (11), but only mustered three in the second period.

Crystal Palace have picked up eight points in their last five Premier League games (W2 D2 L1), after accruing just two from their previous seven in the competition.

Palace directed just one shot on target in this game; on only two occasions in the Premier League this season have they managed fewer (0 v Man City in September and 0 v Newcastle in October).

What's next?

Watford are back in Premier League action on 30 April when they face Tottenham at Wembley (20:00 BST) while Crystal Palace entertain Leicester City at Selhurst Park (15:00) on 28 April.